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The electronic version of this document has been prepared at the Fourth
World Conference on Women by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
in collaboration with the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women
Secretariat.
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AS WRITTEN
STATEMENT BY H.E. MRS. TADELLECH HAILEMICHAEL
MINISTER, WOMEN'S AFFAIRS OFFICE, OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
Madame President
Excellencies
Distinguished Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen
I extend my congratulations to you, Madame President, and the other
members of the Bureau, for your well-deserved election to chair the
deliberations of our Conference. I also take this opportunity to express
my appreciation to Mrs. Gertrude Mongella, Secretary General of the Fourth
World Conference on Women, for her commitment, dedication and invaluable
efforts in leading the Conference to a successful path.
My deep appreciation also goes to the Government of the People's Republic
of China for the enormous efforts made to ensure the successful
organisation of the Conference. The Ethiopian delegation expresses its
deep appreciation to the Conference Secretariat and to all who have worked
so diligently in preparing the Draft Platform for Action.
The Fourth World Conference on Women is an occasion for celebration,
reflection and motivation, but most of all for action.
Celebration, in recognition of all women and their contribution to world
progress. Reflection on those areas where women's hopes and aspirations
have not yet been realised. Motivation to tackle critical issues with
concrete, realistic strategies. Action to further the programmes launched
in Rio, Vienna, Cairo and Copenhagen conferences. Beijing is thus the
launching pad for action.
The Ethiopian delegation is confident that the outcome of the Conference
will be a comprehensive global strategy to address the critical concerns
of women for years to come.
Madame President
Mexico began the momentum that increased in Copenhagen and Nairobi Since
then, the African woman has climbed every mountain, walked every pathway,
and swum every river to remove the shackles that sought to keep her a
passive partner in the transformation of her society.
Recent global conferences have emphasized that all sectors of society must
take responsibility to improve the lives of the millions still living in
poverty so that each country can make the most effective use of its
resources.
There is a global consensus that the emancipation and empowerment of women
are central to the solution of poverty, and for sustainable development.
Madame President
Distinguished Delegates
Permit me to give you a brief review of the efforts made by the Government
of Ethiopia since the fall of the military dictatorship four years ago, to
improve the political, economic and social life of the Ethiopian people,
and particularly of Ethiopian women.
Shortly before we came to this Conference, two momentous events took
place:
For the first time in their long history the people of Ethiopia
democratically elected their representatives, and this was followed by the
establishment of the Government of the people.
In that very same week, Ethiopia received the Peace Torch which we had the
great honour to bring to Beijing Its arrival reminded us of the terrible
costs of the war which we suffered for more than two decades. These recent
sufferings have made the Ethiopian people cherish peace.
But let me recall some of the other gains for Ethiopian women over the
past four years.
I can proudly say that today we have a sufficient legal framework to
assist the protection and promotion of the human rights of Ethiopian
women. The constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia,
which was ratified on the 8th of December l995 has become a tremendous
gain in terms of emphasizing the civil, social and economic rights of
women. lt. underscores particular rights to women, such as, the right to
citizenship, the right to bequeath pension, and the right to acquire and
inherit property rectifying the unequal protection of the law in some
areas.
In recognition of the history of inequality and discrimination suffered by
women, the constitution entitles them to remedial and affirmative
measures. It has also taken a major step in making all human rights
instruments, to which Ethiopia is a party, including the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Women, part of the Ethiopian
law.
In addition to legal and other constitutional provisions, the Ethiopian
Government has taken practical measures for the advancement of women: a
Women's Affairs Office in the Prime Ministerís Office has been set up,
which has branches in regions and major ministries, cross cutting health,
education, population and social policies that specify the special needs
of women.
The major task of the Women's Affairs Office is to integrate gender issues
in policies and programmes. Its most tangible policy input to date has
been National Women's Policy which was endorsed by the Council of
Ministers in 1993. This policy, based on the provisions of CEDAW and the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, has as its major aims:
1. To ensure respect for the human rights of women, including equal
economic, social and political rights;
2. To devise means of alleviating the problems of rural women;
3. To change the traditional belief of women's inferiority, and to help
women become decision- makers at all levels of government.
A number of other gender sensitive policies have been adopted by the
Transitional Government, including the health, population and education
policies, in which women's disadvantages are recognised.
The implementation of these policies will depend on international
cooperation and the allocation of new and additional resources, as well as
women's own efforts in lobbying for their implementation.
In this context, it is important to note that the democratisation process
has allowed the emergence of a number of professional interest based
women's NGO' s, and others which are allocating more and resources to
gender issues.
Madame President
Distinguished Delegates
I have focused on the enabling environment which prevails in Ethiopia
today. But this is not to gloss over the fact that Ethiopian women face
severe socio-economic problems, of which the most dominant is overwhelming
poverty.
It is our sincere wish that this Conference will pay special attention to
the challenge of women in poverty, and identify innovative concrete
mechanisms to improve the lives and enhance the capability of poor women.
THANK YOU